Bell rallies England with century

Ian Bell cracked a solid 115 not out to lead England’s fightback on the third day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Monday in Dhaka. He hit one six and 12 fours in his 10th Test century as England reached 372-5 in their first innings at tea in reply to Bangladesh’s 419. The tourists were struggling at 174-4 early in the day before Bell came to his team’s rescue with a 98-run stand for the fifth wicket with Matt Prior (62) and 100 for the unfinished sixth with Tim Bresnan (45 not out).

Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan put pressure on England after dismissing Jonathan Trott and wicket-keeper Prior in the morning, but Bell and Bresnan denied the hosts success in the second session.

Bell, unbeaten on 25 overnight, hoisted left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak for a straight six and later cut seamer Rubel Hossain for a four to reach his century in the afternoon session.

Bangladesh were unlucky not the get the wickets of Prior and Bresnan early in the batsmen’s innings.

Prior was on nine when he survived a confident appeal for leg-before off Rubel, although TV replays suggested the ball would have hit the leg-stump.

Bangladesh’s appeal for a catch against Bresnan was also turned down but TV replays suggested the batsman inside-edged a Shakib delivery on to his pad before being caught at silly-point when on five.

Prior and Bresnan both went on to play crucial knocks and ease pressure on their team.

The England wicket-keeper hit nine fours in his 13th Test half-century before he was bowled by Shakib, missing the line after stepping out to play a big shot.

Bell completed his half-century when he took 10 runs, including two fours, in an over from Razzak, opening the attack with the second new ball.

England suffered a setback in the morning’s third over when makeshift opener Trott was bowled by Shakib at his overnight score of 64, the ball hitting the pad and elbow before rolling on to the stumps.

Prior executed some handsome shots in an 89-ball knock, driving seamer Shafiul Islam for two successive fours before pulling off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah for a boundary to reach his half-century.

England lead 1-0 in the series following their 181-run victory in the opening Test in Chittagong.

DHAKA, AFP

BANGLADESH 
1ST INNINGS 419 

ENGLAND 
1ST INNINGS 
(overnight 171-3):
   
A. Cook c Kayes b Razzak		21
J. Trott b Shakib			64
K. Pietersen c Kayes b Shakib		45
P. Collingwood lbw b Rubel		 0
I. Bell not out 			115
M. Prior b Shakib			62
T. Bresnan not out			45

Extras(b5, lb10, nb5)			20
Total (for five wickets; 127 overs)     372
Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Cook), 2-105 (Pietersen), 3-107 (Collingwood), 4-174 (Trott), 5-272 (Prior).
Bowling: Shafiul 9-2-28-0, Razzak 35-7-121-1, Shakib 44-21-76-3, Mahmudullah 12-2-32-0,
 Rubel 19-3-67-1 (nb5), Naeem 7-0-29-0, Tamim 1-0-4-0.